Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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22. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the current blockages of aid to locations in Darfur, Sudan, for example, El Fasher; and the position of the Irish Government regarding aid being prevented from accessing locations. [53803/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Government remains deeply concerned by the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Two years of conflict have resulted in the world’s worst humanitarian crisis with nearly 12 million people forcibly displaced. Over 20 million people in Sudan face crisis levels of hunger, including famine in many parts of the country, in what is a preventable crisis. Since the outbreak of the war, Ireland has consistently emphasised the need to protect civilians and maintain humanitarian access.

Both parties to the conflict are responsible for obstructing aid, causing untold suffering for the civilian population. Humanitarian organisations have been hindered from reaching the people who need assistance the most, including in areas with famine. Attacks on aid convoys continue and humanitarian workers continue to be killed. As Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, I signed a joint statement by 30 donor countries condemning an attack on a convoy in El Fasher in June, as well as the ongoing attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers across Sudan.

In Darfur, humanitarian agencies report better access in recent months with humanitarian food convoys managing to access many areas from Adré in Chad. The World Food Programme is currently supporting over 4 million people a month including in Darfur. However the ongoing siege of El Fasher and the lack of humanitarian access has extremely grave implications for civilians. Ireland supports the call of the UN Secretary General for an immediate cessation of hostilities, facilitation of safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access, as well as protection of civilians in El Fasher.

We continue to engage actively on the crisis through all diplomatic channels available. Ireland has consistently raised the need for increased humanitarian funding, cessation of hostilities and a return to negotiations, at meetings of the EU Foreign Affairs Council and the UN Human Rights Council. Ireland supports the work of the Independent International Fact Finding Mission for Sudan and welcomes its most recent report. At the UN, the Government has continued to engage widely on how to halt the atrocities in Sudan and ensure that parties commit to a path of negotiated peace.

We recently announced a further package of €3 million in humanitarian assistance, bringing our commitment in 2025 to €14.3 million to support communities in Sudan and those displaced in neighbouring countries.